Adding a 5 hp to a 16' as a troling moter

Steve Grover

Need advise. In Aug. I purchased a 16' cruiser with a 50 Yamaha. I weigh about 215 lbs. If I sit at the wheel with no one else aboard I have a slight starboard list. That's OK..I move slight to center and Gizmo flattens out. I have a Honda 5 hp short shaft which I am considering adding to the port transom on a removable mount so that I can get it lower in the water. The Honda engine weighs 65 lbs. The Yamaha weighs about 250 lbs. With gas and engines all aft will I be happy with all that weight? Anyone had the experience?

fiddlersgreen6 · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Steve---- On my 16' cruiser, I have an evinrude 50 H.P and an 8 H.P. along with two fairly large gas tanks and one battery in the rear, with another battery in the bow area, this seems to work fine for all of my uses with 2 people aboard. Balancing does not seem to be much of a problem. I do not know the weight of the engines. Hopefully this is of some help.----------Rich

Steve Grover · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:51 pm Post subject: 5 hp on 16'er

Rich (Don Quixote)
Thanks for the reply...yes helpful. My short shaft is about 6" short to hang off the transom. Long shaft is the recommended but I don't have one and don't want to trade in the short shaft because I use it on an inflatable.
How do you mount your 8 hp? I do store an extra 6 gal. fuel tank forward. Have two on board. The battery is a good idea. Do you just store it or is it hooked up?
I am going to continue to look into a mount.
Thanks

fiddlersgreen6 · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:27 am Post subject:

Hi Steve---- When I get to Fredricksburg, Va. I will measure the lenght of the shaft on the 8 H.P. and advise you, Give me your phone # on the private E-mail and I will contact you before Dec. 1------- Thanks Rich (on Don Quixote- still chasing rainbows and fighting windmills).

SENSEI · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

My neighbor has a 16 angler and has a 55 tohatsu maine and a 8 honda kicker. he had a 15 evinrude for a kicker prior to the honda but it was a short shaft and he eventually burned it up cause the lower unit wasn't low enough to take water in regularly.

fiddlersgreen6 · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:13 am Post subject:

Yes, Roger that makes sense, I must have a regular shaft on the 8 H.P.---Rich

oldgrowth · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject:

When I got my 16’ cruiser, it had a 50hp and an 8hp Honda on it, one battery, two six-gallon gas tanks and a 3-gallon tank, plus toolbox. That was over 470 lbs in the stern. If I sat in back to control the kicker that added another 175 lbs. Now it is close to 650 lbs in back. Put somebody else back there fishing and you are around 800 lbs at a minimum and maybe as much as 875. I wanted another battery, so I would have a house and starting battery. That would add another 40 lbs. Then when you start adding camping gear, food, extra gas and other stuff you become overloaded. It does not matter where you put the stuff.

My solution was to take the kicker engine off and put both batteries under the port seat. I ended up with a better-balanced boat and able to carry more things I want and need for extended camping trips. The 50 hp Honda is more than adequate as a trolling engine.